Getting Back on Track to Feeling Happy

I hope everyone had a great weekend! I’ve had such a wonderfully overwhelming reaction to my capsule wardrobe posts from the last couple of weeks and so I wanted to say a big thank you for your support. From the bottom of my heart. And today I’m sharing this comfy outfit from my autumn capsule wardrobe. I paired my simple jeans + white top combo with a chunky checked scarf and fedora to add a touch of texture, while still keeping the whole look very casual. And because we were hiking (how pretty is this little Swiss woodlands by the way?) I chose my trusty Timberland boots!

There is also something else I wanted to talk about today. Something we all go through on one level or another at different times. Those moments (or days or weeks or even months) when getting back on track to feeling happy feels impossible. When the happy-go-lucky quotes on Pinterest just make you feel even worse. Choosing happiness can be made to sound so damn easy. And sometimes it is. But sometimes it isn’t.

This is definitely the case for me. So I wanted to go over my three favourite ways to get back on track to feeling happy. And I say ‘back on track’ for a reason. Because there are times when it takes a little journey before you start feeling joyful again. And these techniques will help you start that journey.

3 Simple Ways to Get Back on Track to feeling Happy

1. Take a Breather

Sometimes we get so involved in pushing ourselves to be a certain person or reach a goal that we forget to stop and check-in with ourselves. We don’t allow ourselves to take a break. Thinking that we will start going backwards if we stop. There’s only one way that situation can end – by getting burnt out. Me and burnout go way back. I’m very familiar with all of those yuck thoughts that can cross your mind when you think of taking some time out – “you’re lazy”, “you’re a quitter”, “you’re not worthy”, “the world will probably end if you take some time out for yourself”…

Whether you are striving to start your own business, proving yourself for a promotion at work or wanting to be the best possible parent you can be, it is important to make sure we step back and get some perspective regularly. The things that make us happy are always changing and evolving as we live our lives. Sometimes you just need a break to regather your energy and inspiration. Sometimes you need that break to see that the thing you are striving for or the way you are trying to get there just isn’t for you anymore.

Try this: We all have different commitments, so pick an amount of time you feel happy with or can manage to take a breather for. It might be one afternoon, one day, one weekend, a long weekend or a whole week. Make a promise to yourself that you won’t feel guilty for taking a break, because that will just undo all the good work. You deserve this break as much an anyone else. Plan your time out doing things you enjoy that don’t involve thinking about the thing you are taking a break from. Have a bath, get a massage, read a book, go get coffee with friends, take a nap.

Come back refreshed and really take note of how you feel and why. Don’t just think about what you want to change or adjust. Write it all down. Writing things down is a process in itself, it means you think a bit harder about it and get more detailed. I always find I am far more likely to action something if I’ve written it down.

2. Change your Filter

As we go through our day we have a choice to focus our attention on the negative situations that cross our paths or the positive ones. When you view your day through a negative filter you pay your attention to and recount all the bad things that happened. By giving your attention to the bad things you start to believe that only bad things happen to you. You see yourself as clumsy, stupid and not good enough. When you start to believe these things about yourself you lose the motivation to work towards the things that make you happy.

However, when you view your day through a positive filter you pay your attention to and recount all the good things that happened. By giving your attention to the good things you start to believe that an abundance of good things happens to you. You see yourself as strong, smart and worthy. When you start to believe these things about yourself you gain motivation and momentum to work towards the things that make you happy. By simply changing the focus of your attention or putting a positive filter on your day you can make a big difference to how you feel and what you feel capable of achieving.

Try this: When you wake up in the morning make a decision to see the day through a positive filter. Try to be more aware of the things you notice and think about. If you catch yourself focusing on the negative flip your thinking and find something positive to focus on. It doesn’t need to be groundbreaking. Your positive thing could be getting a great car park, discovering your favourite author has a new book out or getting a compliment on your hair.

3. Include Daily Moments of Joy

It’s very easy to get caught up in the daily grind, repeating the same thing from Monday to Friday. So to brighten things up a bit add in some daily moments of joy. These are simple things that make you feel happy to be doing. By scattering them throughout your week you will give yourself little checkpoints to look forward to.

Try this: Make a list of little things that make you smile. Like a cup of your favourite tea, getting your nails done, reading, yoga, bubble-baths, walking outside, meditation or taking photos. Try to include at least one of these things into each day. Buy yourself your favourite tea and make yourself a cup at 3pm, pop on your favourite playlist and take a walk outside before or after work, go to bed a bit earlier and read for an hour before going to sleep.

These are three techniques I use that are quite simple but can make a big difference to how I feel from day to day. I’d love to hear below if you’ve tried any of them. Or if you have a technique of your own you’d like to share.

Big Love,

Like this outfit?

These items are from my ’17 Autumn Capsule Wardrobe. You can shop it and support Jayde Archives at the same time by using some of the affiliate links below: